I recently finished Escape by Carolyn Jessop, which details her life in and eventual escape from the FLDS community led by Warren Jeffs.  My interest was partly a general interest in women's issues, and partly because my family is descended from one of the early leaders of the Mormon church (no real believers though for a couple of generations) and I am probably distantly related to at least some of the people in that community.

I should note it is a pretty harrowing story, and those who are easily triggered might want to avoid it.

One of the things I found most interesting was  the practices she details that were used to keep her and the other women in line.

a) She was taught she was practically royal to have been born into the family she was, a favored child of God

b) Entering a polygamous marriage was God's design for her, and the only means to salvation

c) Once in the marriage, pleasing her husband was the way to maintain that possibility of salvation

d) Access to money and transportation was restricted

e) Any misfortunes were her fault, for not being more submissive

f) She was misinformed about what would happen if she left, that there was no way she would get her children

g) The educational system was dismantled; little beyond religion is ever taught

h) A hint of even sexual interest outside marriage could be punished severely

I can see some parallels with tactics used in the mainstream world, though the mainstream isn't typically as extremeas the FLDS. 

Any thoughts?

1

You recommended

3 Comments

October 15, 2009 11:07 PM

[0+]  Arakiba said:

c) Once in the marriage, pleasing her husband was the way to maintain that possibility of salvation

d) Access to money and transportation was restricted

e) Any misfortunes were her fault, for not being more submissive >>

Wow. Can it be any more obvious that this nonsense is made up by men, for the benefit of men? I can only pity the women that are born into it and can't escape it.

I  Liked  Liked this comment  |  Reply |

October 15, 2009 11:26 PM

[0+]  TD replied to Arakiba :

For the benefit of a select few men, polygamous societies aren't sustainable. So the way these sociopaths keep their cult running? Boys as young as 13 are dumped along the side of the road in Utah.

I  Liked  Liked this comment  |  Reply |

October 16, 2009 1:05 AM

[0+]  PDXHopeful replied to Arakiba :

There will be fewer who have resources to escape these days.

I can't defend the FLDS at any time, but prior to Warren Jeffs taking control things were more liberal than they are now. Carolyn, for example, was allowed to go to college and worked outside the community as a young woman. Both would be pretty much unheard of now. Girls are being married off younger too. These new restrictions are presented as a way for the community to become even more holy and close to God.

All those things would make it even harder to leave.

I  Liked  Liked this comment  |  Reply |

Leave a comment

Comments (You may use HTML tags for style)